Solar energy collection system

ABSTRACT

A solar energy collection system includes a solar energy collection device, a plurality of photoreceptors, a driving device, and a controller. The photoreceptors are arranged on different positions of the solar energy collection device. When one of the plurality of photoreceptors senses a beam of sunlight, the one of the plurality of photoreceptors outputs an electrical signal, the controller determines an included angle between the sunlight and the solar energy collection device according to the electrical signal and the position of the one of the plurality of photoreceptors. The controller controls the driving device to tilt the solar energy collection device to be always perpendicular to the beam of sunlight.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical field

The disclosure generally relates to solar energy collection systems, and particularly relates to a solar energy collection system that tracks sunlight.

2. Description of the Related Art

Solar panels, solar water tank, solar cookers, and other solar energy collection devices are widely used. However, most of the solar energy collection devices do not track sunlight, thus it is inefficient.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments.

FIG. 1 is schematic view of a solar energy collection system, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a plurality of photoreceptors of the solar energy collection system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the solar energy collection system of FIG. 1, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 4 a-4 c are a schematic view of the solar energy collection system of FIG. 1 tracking sunlight.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 show a solar energy collection system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. The solar energy collection system 100 includes a solar energy collection device 10, a sunlight collection box 20, a plurality of photoreceptors 30, a controller 40, and a driving device 50.

The solar energy collection device 10 collects solar energy in the form of light. The solar energy collection device 10 can be a solar panel, a solar water tank, or a solar cooker. In one embodiment, the solar energy collection device 10 is a solar panel.

The sunlight collection box 20 is horizontally positioned on the solar energy collection device 10 and is parallel to a top surface of the solar energy collection device 10. In one embodiment, the sunlight collection box 20 is a hollow cylinder including a top wall 21. A hole 22 is defined on a center of the top wall 21, and a diameter of the hole 22 is defined to allow a predetermined width of a beam of sunlight to pass. Thus, the beam of the sunlight can enter into the sunlight collection box 20 via the hole 22.

In FIGS. 1-2, the plurality of photoreceptors 30 are received in the sunlight collection box 20, and are arranged on the solar energy collection device 10 in a form of concentric circles. The photoreceptor 30 outputs an electrical signal when the photoreceptor 30 senses the beam of the sunlight. In one embodiment, the photoreceptor 30 can be a photoresistor or a charge coupled device (CCD), for example.

In addition, the plurality of photoreceptors 30 arranged on different positions of the solar energy collection device 10 are configured at different included angles between the beam of sunlight and the solar energy collection device 10. In one embodiment, the photoreceptor 30 opposite to the hole 22 has an included angle between the beam of sunlight and the solar energy collection device 10 of 90 degrees, and other photoreceptors 30 may have an included angle between the beam of sunlight and the solar energy collection device 10 of 5 degrees, or 10 degrees, . . . , or 85 degrees. In other words, the greater the number of photoreceptors 30, the smaller differences in the included angles of different receptors 30.

In FIG. 3, the controller 40 is electronically connected to the plurality of photoreceptors 30, and determines the included angles between the beam of sunlight and the solar energy collection device 10 according to the electrical signal output from the photoreceptors 30 and their respective positions inside the sunlight collection box 20. For example, when the photoreceptor 30 having an included angle between the beam of sunlight and the solar energy collection device 10 of 25 degrees outputs the electrical signal, the controller 40 determines that the included angle is 25 degrees.

The controller 40 is also electronically connected to the driving device 50, and controls the driving device 50. In one embodiment, the driving device 50 includes a first driving member 52 and a second driving member 54. The first driving member 52 drives the solar energy collection device 10 to tilt in an east-west or west-east direction, to orient the solar energy collection device 10 to be perpendicular to the beam of sunlight. The second driving member 54 drives the solar energy collection device 10 to tilt in a north-south or south-north direction, to allow the solar energy collection device 10 to track sunlight in different seasons of the year. Since the elevation of the sun changes slowly during the seasons, the controller 40 may rely on a mechanical clock to control the second driving member 54.

In FIGS. 4 a-4 c, in use, when the solar energy collection device 10 is in a horizontal position, a beam of sunlight enters into the sunlight collection box 20 via the hole 22. If the included angle between the sunlight and the solar energy collection device 10 is 25 degrees, the photoreceptor 30 which has the included angle of 25 degrees is activated, and the electrical signal is output. The controller 40 determines the particular receptor 30 which issued the electrical signal, and controls the first driving member 52 to drive the solar energy collection device 10 to tilt 25 degrees from the horizontal, to orient, or re-orient. Thus, the solar energy collection device 10 can be perpendicular to the sunlight to collect more solar energy.

When the sun shifts a certain angle (e.g., 10 degrees), the included angle between the beam of sunlight which is captured and the solar energy collection device 10 is then 80 degrees. Then, the photoreceptor 30 which has an included angle of 80 degrees between the captured beam of sunlight and the solar energy collection device 10 is activated, and outputs the electrical signal. The controller 40 determines the particular photoreceptor 30 which issued the signal and thus that the included angle is now 80 degrees, and controls the first driving member 52 to drive the solar energy collection device 10 to tilt a further 10 degrees from the horizontal, as the beam of sunlight is now an overall 35 degrees from the horizontal. Thus, the solar energy collection device 10 can always be perpendicular to the sun.

In other exemplary embodiments, in the dark (such as at night), the controller 40 controls the first driving member 52 to drive the solar energy collection device 10 to the horizontal position.

In summary, the photoreceptor 30 outputs the electrical signal when the photoreceptor 30 senses the beam of sunlight. The controller 40 determines the position of the photoreceptor 30 which issued the electrical signal and thus the included angle between the beam of sunlight and the solar energy collection device 10, and accordingly controls the driving device 50 to tilt the solar energy collection device 10 as required, for orienting the solar energy collection device 10 to be always perpendicular to the sun all the time to collect more solar energy. The ability of the solar energy collection system 100 to track sunlight renders it very efficient in operation.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the exemplary disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and functions of the exemplary disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the exemplary disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A solar energy collection system, comprising: a solar energy collection device; a plurality of photoreceptors arranged on different positions of the solar energy collection device; a driving device; and a controller electronically connected to the plurality of photoreceptors and the drive device; wherein when one of the plurality of photoreceptors senses a beam of sunlight, the one of the plurality of photoreceptors outputs an electrical signal and the controller determines an included angle between the beam of sunlight and the solar energy collection device according to the electrical signal and the position of the one of the plurality of photoreceptors; the controller tilts the driving device according to the included angle, to drive the solar energy collection device to be perpendicular to the beam of sunlight.
 2. The solar energy collection system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a sunlight collection box, wherein the sunlight collection box is horizontally positioned on the solar energy collection device.
 3. The solar energy collection system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sunlight collection box is a hollow cylinder comprising a top wall, and a hole is defined on a center of the top wall.
 4. The solar energy collection system as claimed in claim 3, wherein a diameter of the hole is defined to allow a predetermined width of the beam of sunlight to pass.
 5. The solar energy collection system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the plurality of photoreceptors are received in the sunlight collection box, and are arranged on the solar energy collection device in a form of concentric circles.
 6. The solar energy collection system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plurality of photoreceptors are configured at different included angles between the beam of sunlight and the solar energy collection device.
 7. The solar energy collection system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the photoreceptor opposite to the hole has an included angle between the beam of sunlight and the solar energy collection device of 90 degrees.
 8. The solar energy collection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving device includes a first driving member, the first driving member drives the solar energy collection device to tilt in an east-west or west-east direction.
 9. The solar energy collection system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the driving device further includes a second driving member, the second driving member drives the solar energy collection device to tilt in a north-south or south-north direction.
 10. The solar energy collection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the photoreceptor is a photoresistor or a charge coupled device (CCD). 